Naomi Klein, author of the international bestseller The Shock Doctrine, says the tragic destruction of Hurricane Sandy can also be the catalyst for the transformation of politics and our economy. She’s been in New York visiting the devastated areas — including those where “Occupy Sandy” volunteers are unfolding new models of relief — as part of her reporting for a new book and film on climate change and the future, and joins Bill to discuss hurricanes, climate change, and democracy.

“Let’s rebuild by actually getting at the root causes. Let’s respond by aiming for an economy that responds to the crisis both inequality and climate change,” Klein tells Bill. “You know, dream big.

2. I thought she was too extreme with her Disaster Capitalism

but over time I saw she was prescient. She thinks this issue is number one and I'm with her, young people especially have to get involved -- and it's good to have a veteran like Klein involved, she's making a doc now as well.

3. She's got an uncanny knack for explaining complex issues.

Another book I read about the same time I read Shock Doctrine was, Collapse, How Societies Choose To Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond. That was a very well written book. At first I was worried because the author keep talking about Montana, but he tied everything nicely. Reading those two books so closely together was intense, insane and most enlightening.

7. Haven't read that one

I wonder what are the other stellar reads on this that are recently published.

In related news Bill McKibben was once again at the White House to protest the pipeline this weekend. He says that it is a challenge for Obama. I really hope that doesn't have to be the first test of his resolve and that isn't what was meant by putting economy before climate/ecology for now..